Two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is officially a Dodger following Saturday's blockbuster trade, with ripple effects being felt across MLB. On the latest episode of MLB According to CC, Hall of Famer CC Sabathia explained why the Dodgers' marquee acquisition has major consequences for the Milwaukee Brewers' NL Pennant and World Series aspirations.
The number one thing I thought about was how the Brewers kind of blew it ... I felt like [Los Angeles] was the only spot that he could go to that would ruin the Brewers’ season.
CC Sabathia
Sabathia always believed that Milwaukee was the team that could have benefited the most from acquiring Skubal, explaining just a week ago that the Brewers had to make a major move to "get over the hump." With the star lefty now wearing Dodger blue, Sabathia fears the lack of a rotation upgrade could "break" the Brewers' hopes of truly challenging the Dodgers for NL supremacy.
The Hall of Famer points primarily to Los Angeles' nearly unmatched pitching depth, where Dave Roberts' rotation has the chance to become one of the best rotations we have "ever seen," with a staff that could include Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.
CC Sabathia “can’t blame” the Dodgers for leveraging their farm system to pull off blockbusters. That’s why he thinks the Brewers and Yankees were among the most underwhelming teams at the trade deadline.
While disappointed to see Skubal leave Detroit, Sabathia understood the Tigers' decision. By trading both Skubal and Casey Mize, the organization was able to replenish its farm system with prospects rather than risk holding the two pitchers, missing the playoffs and receiving nothing in return.
The only criticism Sabathia had of the Tigers' return was the lack of a "big-league player." While he acknowledged the prospects strengthen Detroit's future outlook, he would have liked to see Detroit acquire someone capable of making an immediate impact at the major-league level, such as Emmet Sheehan.
New episodes with CC and Ahmed Fareed drop every Wednesday on Peacock, NBC Sports NOW, NBCSN, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 23: Ben Rortvedt #47 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 23, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 5-4. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Both Will Smith and Dalton Rushing are on the injured list, and Ben Rortvedt has come to the Dodgers rescue yet again, this time from not only off the 40-man roster but also from a different team. One day after the Dodgers’ acquired Rortvedt from the New York Mets, they selected him to the major league roster to catch Tarik Skubal’s Dodgers debut on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.
Hunter Feduccia, who was also acquired on Monday in a separate trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, was also recalled from Triple-A. Eliezer Alfonzo was optioned to Oklahoma City and Chuckie Robinson was designated for assignment on Tuesday, completing the full catching tandem swap.
Last season with both Smith and Rushing sidelined, Rortvedt started 15 of the final 21 games of the regular season and also started the first four postseason games too, until Smith returned from his hand injury. Looks like it’s going to be the same for now, at least for the next few weeks.
“Given what Ben did for us last year, us knowing him, him being with a lot of our guys, being more of a guy that’s been around for a while,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday in Chicago, “I could see him taking the lion’s share for the foreseeable future.”
Rortvedt had been with Triple-A Syracuse all season, starting 39 games behind the plate. He hit .235/.391/.414 with six home runs in 167 games.
Feduccia this season started 51 games behind the plate for the Rays, and hit .234/.306/.340 with seven doubles and two home runs in 160 plate appearances.
“It’s protecting the downside with the catching,” Roberts said Monday. “We’ve always liked [Feduccia], so obviously with the catching, losing Rush and not having Will back, kind of just making sure — coverage is important.”
Alfonzo started nine games and caught 74 innings for the Dodgers in his first stint in the major leagues. Robinson caught 59 innings and started six games behind the plate. Alfonzo had five hits, including two doubles in 27 at-bats, while Robinson had two singles in 23 at-bats this season.
Former members of the Vancouver Canucks will take the spotlight in this off-season article series. From those skating with new NHL teams heading into the 2026–27 season to those who are now playing for international clubs, these featured players have skated in at least one game at the NHL level as a member of the Canucks.
Today’s segment will take a look at the seven former Canucks that are set to compete for teams in the NHL’s Pacific Division during the 2026–27 season.
A former fifth-round pick by Vancouver in the 2015 NHL Draft, Gaudette spent four years with the club that drafted him, skating in 153 NHL games and scoring 21 goals and 31 assists for Vancouver. He was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for Matthew Highmore in April of 2021.
The 2025–26 season was Gaudette’s first season with the Sharks, during which the forward scored 17 goals and eight assists in 66 games played. While he provided good offensive depth during this season, with the players ptoentially coming into the Sharks organization in 2026–27, Gaudette may find himself battling for a full-time roster spot come training camp.
Kiefer Sherwood, San Jose Sharks
In a couple of seasons filled with controversy and disappointment, Sherwood was one of the few bright spots that came to Vancouver when he signed with the team during the 2024 off-season. He posted a then career-high of 19 goals and 21 assists in 78 games during the 2024–25 season with the Canucks while breaking an NHL record for hits made in a single season with 460.
Back in January, Sherwood was traded to the Sharks for two second-round picks and defenceman Cole Clayton. At the time, he’d registered 17 goals and six assists in 44 games with Vancouver, adding six goals and seven assists in 28 games with San Jose after that. After a little over a month with the Sharks, Sherwood signed a five-year contract worth $5.75M annually.
Tyler Toffoli, San Jose Sharks
Toffoli only played in a grand total of 17 regular and post-season games for the Canucks before he signed with the Montréal Canadiens during the 2020 free-agency period. That said, he made quite the offensive impact in his time with Vancouver, scoring six goals and four assists in his 10 regular season games and two goals and two assists in seven playoff games.
After a lot of hopping around, it appears Toffoli has managed to find himself a home in San Jose. He’ll enter his third season with the Sharks come the 2026–27 season, having served as an assistant captain during the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons. In 79 games during the past season, he scored 19 goals and 30 assists. While the youth movement in San Jose is surging, it appears Toffoli has cemented himself as one of the team’s veteran leaders.
Once upon a time, the Canucks traded a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft for Dickinson, who only ended up spending one season with Vancouver. The forward scored five goals and six assists in 62 games with the Canucks during that year, 2021–22, and didn’t quite fit with the team the way he was expected to. As a result, the Canucks ended up paying out a second-round pick in 2024 to the Blackhawks to flip Dickinson.
Moving on from Vancouver seemed to be the best thing for Dickinson, as the forward posted back-to-back 30-point seasons with Chicago after being dealt. He was traded to the Oilers earlier in the year alongside Colton Dach for Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional first-round draft pick in 2027 or 2028. He finished the 2025–26 season with an overall total of seven goals and 10 assists in 64 regular season games, also scoring twice and logging one assist in four playoff games.
Apr 20, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers center Jason Dickinson (16) celebrates a goal on the Anaheim Ducks in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs during the first period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Images
Vasily Podkolzin, Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver’s first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Podkolzin, notably found the most personal success upon heading to the Oilers via trade in 2024. While he put up fair rookie numbers in 2021–22 with 14 goals and 12 assists in 76 games, he wasn’t quite able to replicate that in the following two seasons with Vancouver, ultimately ending up in the AHL as a result.
While his first season with the Oilers was impressive, 2025–26 put Podkolzin in an even better position than the year before. He played his way into a strong top to middle-six role while also getting some minutes on Edmonton’s special teams. In 82 games played this past season, Podkolzin set new career-highs in goals (19), assists (18), and overall points (37).
Dowd’s stint with the Canucks lasted a grand total of 40 games during the 2017–18 season. His time in Vancouver began when he was acquired in a trade for Jordan Subban in December of 2017 and ended when he signed with the Washington Capitals in free-agency in 2018. He scored three goals throughout his tenure with Vancouver.
Dowd’s long stint with the Capitals recently came to an end when he was traded to the Golden Knights at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. At the time, he’d registered four goals and 12 assists in 55 games with Washington. After 20 regular season games with Vegas, during which he collected a goal and four assists, Dowd joined the Golden Knights for a Stanley Cup Final run that saw his team lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.
The most recent Canucks departure who is set to play in the Pacific Division during the 2026–27 season, Douglas was claimed off waivers by Vancouver during the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, ending his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Prior to his time with the Canucks, he played in 29 games with Tampa Bay, logging two assists.
Douglas skated in a total of 14 games with Vancouver during the 2025–26 season. During this span, he made his presence known as a physical player who wasn’t afraid to drop the gloves in defence of his teammates whenever necessary. He scored his first career NHL goal on April 12 against the Anaheim Ducks and added an assist in Vancouver’s final game of the year against the Oilers.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 25: Nolan McLean #26 of the New York Mets throws a pitch during the second inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on July 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Much more so than on the position player side, this meter will look completely different the next time it is posted as a good chunk of the players in the table below are no longer on the roster because they were traded at the deadline. The Mets dealt starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes (not listed because he never took the mound in a Mets uniform in the second half), as well as relievers Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Huascar Brazobán, and A.J. Minter. Moving forward, many young Mets pitchers will be given a chance to see if they can be part of the solution moving forward, but for now let’s see how these departing Mets finished their tenure in Queens.
Player
Last week
This week
Huascar Brazobán, RHP
Xzavion Curry, RHP
Daniel Duarte, RHP
—
Kevin Herget, RHP
—
Sean Manaea, LHP
Nolan McLean, RHP
A.J. Minter, LHP
Freddy Peralta, RHP
Cionel Pérez, LHP
Jonathan Pintaro, RHP
—
Brooks Raley, LHP
Christian Scott, RHP
Kodai Senga, RHP
Robert Stock, RHP
—
Zac Thonton, LHP
Luke Weaver, RHP
Devin Williams, RHP
Unfortunately, Freddy Peralta’s already unsuccessful Mets tenure ended on a sour note. He got knocked around by the Brewers on July 20 to the tune of seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work, taking his ninth loss of the year. He struck out six and walked only two in the outing, but he gave up eight hits, including two home runs. His last start before the trade deadline was a little bit better—and the Mets won the game—but he only lasted four innings, so he was not able to factor into the decision. In that outing, he gave up three runs (only two of them earned) on six hits, striking out three batters and walking two. He was the Mets’ biggest offseason acquisition on the pitching side and unfortunately it didn’t work out how either he or the Mets would have wanted. He was dealt to the Tampa Bay Rays for a package of three prospects and the return is undoubtedly not as good as it would have been if he had pitched to his career norms; though if Peralta had pitched to his career norms, it’s possible the Mets would not have been in the position they are in today.
It was Cionel Pérez who earned the win in the series finale against the Dodgers that Peralta started with two scoreless innings of work and three strikeouts. Pérez’s second half was off to an excellent start, as he went five straight appearances without allowing a run out of the break. Unfortunately, he hit the injured list on Friday with a left forearm strain, which is never a good thing to hear about a pitcher.
At the same time as Pérez hit the IL, A.J. Minter became the first Mets reliever to be dealt. Minter had a mix of good and bad outings in the second half prior to the trade. He gave up a solo homer to Alec Bohm in the series finale against the Phillies, but the Mets had the game pretty well in hand at that point. He had a good outing in the series finale against the Brewers in a close game that the Mets ultimately lost, but then he gave up a crucial two-run homer to Kyle Tucker in the Dodgers series two days later. His final outing as a Met came in Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader, in which he pitched a scoreless seventh inning to keep the Mets within a run.
In Pérez and Minter’s places, the Mets recalled Jonathan Pintaro and Xzavion Curry. Curry was the hero of Friday’s game, soaking up the final five innings of that game to save the rest of the pitching staff. He was sent back down to Triple-A after that, but he is already back in the aftermath of all of the other trades the Mets have made. In that outing, he gave up two runs on six hits, striking out two. He’s had two other outings in the second half so far—both multi-inning appearances. In Philadelphia right after the All-Star break, he twirled two scoreless frames in the only loss of that series. Then he pitched the final 2 2/3 innings in relief of Peralta in Milwaukee and gave up a home run to Joey Ortiz in an already lopsided game—charging one run to Peralta and one run to Curry. Pintaro’s only appearance since being recalled was a multi-inning one as well; he pitched two scoreless innings in Saturday’s loss to the Marlins. Kevin Herget, freshly recalled from Triple-A, pitched a scoreless inning in that game as well when he was called up to replace Curry on the roster.
Zac Thornton started Saturday’s game and struggled, taking the loss for giving up four runs—only three of them earned—in 4 2/3 innings of work. A guy who usually doesn’t walk many, he issued three free passes in the outing and struck out only two. It was Thornton’s first mediocre outing since his major league debut in Washington DC, ending a run of dominance that carried into the second half to start with. In the Mets’ only win of the Brewers series, Thornton pitched six scoreless innings in what ended as a shutout victory. He followed that up with another quality start and another win against the Braves, giving up three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking only one.
Saturday’s game also featured Daniel Duarte giving up his first two earned runs all season in his eighth appearance of the year. Prior to that outing, Duarte appeared in four games in the second half of July and was unscored upon across 6 1/3 total innings, striking out eight batters and walking only one across those four appearances. He remains on the active roster and will likely be a major contributor in the Mets’ bullpen over the final couple of months.
If there’s one reason to believe the future is bright, it’s that Nolan McLean has been great. He hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any start in the month of July. He was excellent in his first start of the second half in the series finale in Philadelphia, in which he struck out a whopping ten Phillies in six scoreless innings of work, yielding just two hits and earning the victory. McLean took a tough luck loss in a close game against the Dodgers in his next start. He allowed four runs, but only two of them were earned. He struck out seven and walked two in six innings of work. He was good, but Yamamoto was just better. He did not factor into the decision in his most recent start against the Marlins in which the Mets broke through for two runs in the eighth to win the game. McLean gave up two runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings of work, striking out six batters and walking two.
It was Brooks Raley who earned the win in that game, getting out of a jam for McLean in the seventh and then pitching a scoreless eighth as well. That was Raley’s penultimate appearance as a Met and he ends his Mets tenure with the second-highest ERA of any Mets pitcher with more than 100 appearances. Overall, in six appearances totaling six innings of work in the second half prior to the trade, Raley was scored upon in only one of those appearances, taking the loss for allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh inning in the series opener against the Dodgers. Otherwise, he went out on a high note.
Sean Manaea started that series opener against the Dodgers and pitched really well, limiting the damage to just one run on six hits in six innings of work. He struck out three and walked one in the outing, in which he ultimately took a no-decision. It was Manaea’s best result of his three starts so far in the second half. Manaea pitched the only game the Mets lost in Philadelphia in the first series out of the break, allowing four runs on seven hits, including two home runs in just 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out seven and walked two. Kodai Senga helped Manaea navigate his way through the fifth, but then came back out for the sixth and allowed two additional runs to put the game far out of reach. Senga didn’t pitch again until he was forced into emergency starting duty on Friday when Freddy Peralta was scratched in anticipation of a trade. He was pretty good, giving up three runs on two hits in four innings of work, striking out four and walking two. Curry pitched the rest of the game and Senga took the loss, falling to a brutal 0-8 on the season. Manaea pitched Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Braves and held Atlanta to just two runs on five hits in six innings of work.
Devin Williams earned the save in that game and in the victory over the Marlins that McLean started. Williams went 3-for-3 in save opportunities in the second half of July and didn’t give up any runs in his five total appearances over that span. He was unscored upon in the second half until he pitched the ninth inning of Sunday’s game with the Mets down a run and gave up an insurance run to the Marlins in the form of a single, a stolen base, and another single.
That helped ensure a very tough luck loss for Robert Stock in his season debut with the Mets. Stock was battling for a roster spot out of spring training when he went down with thoracic outlet syndrome, requiring surgery. He finally returned on Sunday to a team with the roster spot to welcome him and he was fantastic, giving up just one run on three hits in five innings of work. He struck out four and walked none in the outing. Stock may very well just be part of the Mets’ rotation moving forward.
Sunday’s game marked the final appearance as a Met for multiple relievers, including Huascar Brazobán, who was traded just hours later. Brazobán led Mets relievers with seven appearances in the second half prior to the deadline. He was only scored upon in one of those appearances; he gave up what turned out to be a crucial insurance run to the Brewers in the rubber game loss. He gave up a two-out double and then made way for A.J. Minter, who allowed that run to score, charged to Brazobán.
Christian Scott started that game and took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits and lasting just 3 2/3 innings. He struck out an impressive six batters, but walked three. His other two starts in the second half thus far were much better. In the first game after the break, Scott shut out the Phillies for 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven batters and walking none. He allowed just three hits and earned the win. His clunker in Milwaukee pushed his season ERA above three briefly, but he snuck it down to 2.99 with six one-run innings against the Braves at Citi Field in Game 2 of Wednesday’s double header. One run was all the Braves would manage, but it was enough to hand Scott the loss, as the Mets were shut out by Chris Sale and the Braves bullpen. Scott struck out seven and walked only one in the outing.
Sunday’s game also represented Luke Weaver’s final game as a Met. Given that he is under contract for next year, Weaver was arguably the Mets’ most valuable trade chip and in his five appearances in the second half prior to the trade, he demonstrated why. He appeared in relief of Scott in the first game of the second half and allowed a run on a Trea Turner solo homer that was ultimately meaningless; Weaver still earned a hold anyway and Williams earned the save in the ninth. That was the only run Weaver gave up in five innings across his five appearances. He ends his Mets tenure with a spectacular 1.84 ERA—one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise miserable season.
In June, Draymond Green opted out of his contract with the hopes that Warriors could sign a player with the “mid-level” slot (aka LeBron James), but when that fell through, the four-time NBA champion re-signed with Golden State – with one note-worthy contractual detail.
“It was reported that I did not receive a no-trade clause,” Green said on “The Draymond Green Show.” “No, I didn’t. I think it was something that we could have fought over, but it wasn’t worth fighting over. I think if the Warriors want to trade me at some point in the season, they want to trade me. I’ve never been a guy who wants to stay somewhere where I’m not wanted.”
To further clarify: Draymond Green is waiving implicit no trade clause and will receive 15% trade kicker – just like previous deal. Designed as if he never declined option. Warriors have no intention to trade him, but maintain ability (and he'd get bonus).https://t.co/zk12tZXE2w
The absence of the no-trade clause isn’t something new, as ESPN’s Anthony Slater said when Green signed his contract, stating it’s the same deal the Warriors and the four-time NBA All-Star had in place prior to him opting out.
Green’s name reportedly was floated last season when the Warriors were attempting to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but ultimately that swap never came to fruition either.
“As I’ve always spoke about, I think there is a partnership that this works for us, it works,” Green said. “If it doesn’t, it doesn’t, you know, and I never want to be that guy anyway. So, to sit and fight over a no-trade clause, I don’t think it was worth it. It’s pointless. So, that wasn’t a thing.”
Green’s one-year deal with Golden State is worth over $27 million. The forward, who turns 37 in March, then will become an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are heavy -210 favorites in Tarik Skubal's team debut.
With Skubal at the top of his game and likely to get plenty of run support from an offense that's heating up, I'm backing the road team to win by margin.
Find out more in my Dodgers vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Who will win Dodgers vs Cubs tonight: Dodgers -1.5 (-125)
He's posted a stingy 2.03 ERA and 2.41 xFIP, and punched out nearly 12 batters per nine innings over his last five starts.
While the Chicago Cubs have hit lefties well over the past month, Skubal is almost untouchable when he’s pitching like this.
Javier Assad has almost no strikeout ability, and that will get him into trouble against a Dodgers squad leading the majors in wOBA and OPS vs. righties.
His 0.93 HR/9 rate combined with elite control and a high strikeout percentage should help him navigate through a tough Cubs lineup without too much damage.
The Dodgers could score their fair share against Assad and a bullpen in middling form. Even so, it’ll be tough for this contest to go Over with the Cubs unlikely to contribute much against Skubal.
Bet to -110.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 69-62, -7.10 units
Over/Under bets: 72-54-5, +9.24 units
Dodgers vs Cubs weather
The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 80s with 7 mph winds blowing out. Boost to the bats.
Dodgers vs Cubs odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -210 | Cubs +170
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (-125) | Cubs +1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 9 (+100) | Under 9 (-120)
Dodgers vs Cubs trend
Los Angeles owns a 53-60 O/U record this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Cubs.
How to watch Dodgers vs Cubs and game info
Location
Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
TBS
Dodgers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal (7-5, 2.79 ERA)
Cubs starting pitcher
Javier Assad (6-1, 3.75 ERA)
Dodgers vs Cubs latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 1: James Wood #29 of the Washington Nationals reacts after being called out on strikes in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Casey Sykes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As if this no good, very bad week for the Nationals could not get any worse, now they are losing their best player. James Wood is headed to the IL with a minor oblique strain. For an offense that has already lost two high level hitters in trades, this injury makes things even worse.
The Nationals are placing James Wood on the 10-day injured list with a mild oblique strain. Butera said they hope it will be close to the minim stay.
This is obviously not great, but thankfully we seem to have avoided the worst case scenario here. It is only a mild oblique strain and the team is optimistic that Wood will be back after the minimum 10 days. That is a relief because more severe oblique strains can take months to heal.
Last season, Dylan Crews missed about 3 months with an oblique strain of his own. That will not be the case here for Wood. Blake Butera stressed that it was very minor, with the doctor having to look pretty hard to find a problem. However, it is still enough to put him on the IL. The Nats seem to be playing it safe here, and that is the smart move.
In his place, the Nats are calling up Andrew Pinckney, a 25 year old outfielder with an electric combination of power and speed. He has hit balls as hard as 119 mph in the minors this season. Not even James Wood has hit a ball that hard in the big leagues.
Pinckney’s poor hit tool limits his profile, but he is still a fun addition to the roster. I would love to see him run into one at least once in his big league stint. However, it is still a massive drop off from Wood.
Everything that can go wrong is going wrong for the Nats at the moment. It has been a real reversal of fortunes for a team that has had a lot go right for them. In fact, this is the first starting position player to go on the IL for the Nats all season.
That injury luck is part of the reason for this offensive success. Now with the injuries and trades, the Nats are fighting an uphill battle. Hopefully, the guys we have can hold down the fort until Wood is back.
After being traded to the Pirates as part of the Mets sell-off on Monday, veteran reliever Luke Weaver posted a heartfelt goodbye to the team on Instagram.
“Thank you to the New York Mets, my teammates, staff, and fans! Forever grateful for the memories and relationships I gained here in such a short amount of time. Thank you all for embracing my family and I with open arms! All the best,” Weaver posted.
Weaver was one of four relievers the Mets traded before the deadline, and the team got back Pirates No. 9 prospect and die-hard Mets fan Sammy Stafura in the deal.
Although he was with the Mets for just half a season, Weaver shined with a 1.84 ERA in 42 appearances.
The 32-year-old struck out 45 batters and walked only 11 in 44 innings while allowing just nine earned runs.
Weaver was especially dominant from April 30-Aug. 2, allowing just one earned run in that stretch before being traded.
While it’s not a surprising trade, it’s notable because Weaver was still under contract for next season after signing a two-year, $22 million contract last offseason.
According to The Post’s Joel Sherman, the Mets are taking on $2 million of Weaver’s contract this season and $6 million next year.
Luke Weaver of the New York Mets throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves during game one of a doubleheader at Citi Field in New York City on July 29, 2026. (Getty Images) Getty Images
In addition to losing Weaver, the Mets also traded relievers Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter and Huascar Brazoban, leaving multiple holes in the bullpen entering 2027.
The Mets trading Weaver was largely due to how their season has gone so far, as they entered Monday 47-66 and last in the NL East.
Before joining the Mets, Weaver spent time with the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Royals, Reds, Mariners and Yankees.
Despite being in MLB since 2016, Weaver’s 1.84 ERA this season has been his best by more than a run.
The Lakers' Luka Doncic reacts against Oklahoma City during an NBA playoff game at Crypto.com Arena on May 11. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)
Luka Doncic‘s former fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, requested Monday that the petition for child support she filed in March in Los Angeles Superior Court be dismissed, according to court documents obtained by The Times.
“I am withdrawing my Petition for Child Support with the specific intention of resolving this matter amicably and by a mutual agreement which is in the best interests of our children,” Goltes wrote in the filing.
The Lakers superstar proposed to Goltes, a fashion and fitness model, three years ago. They met as children in their native Slovenia and started dating as teenagers in 2016. Their daughters — Gabriela, 2, and Olivia, seven months — live with Goltes in Slovenia.
Doncic has spent the offseason in Slovenia and will host a four-day minicamp for the entire Lakers team later this month in his hometown of Ljubljana, which will include workouts, golf and sightseeing ahead of training camp. The guard — who led the NBA in scoring with an average of 33.5 points a game last season — even offered to pay the team’s travel costs.
Goltes, 28, sought child support and attorney fees from Doncic, 27, following an incident that occurred shortly after Olivia was born at Kranj Maternity Hospital on Dec. 6, 2025, in Slovenia. Doncic missed games against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics to be present at the birth.
Goltes objected to Doncic’s desire to bring Gabriela back to the United States with him when he joined the Lakers in Philadelphia to play the 76ers on Dec. 7. Goltes called the police, but officers “did not detect any elements of a criminal offense or misdemeanor,” according to a report viewed by ESPN.
The couple broke off their engagement shortly thereafter. Goltes deleted photos of her and Doncic from her Instagram account and Doncic acknowledged that they had separated. He filed an injunction with a Slovenian court in February seeking immediate contact with his daughters, ESPN reported.
“I love my daughters more than anything, and I’ve been doing everything I can for them to be with me in the U.S. during the season, but that hasn’t been possible, so I recently made the tough decision to end my engagement,” Doncic said in March. “Everything I do is for my daughters’ happiness, and I will always fight to be with them and give them the best life I can.”
Doncic posted a photo on social media of Olivia wearing a pink sweater with a heart emoji covering her face. In his first game back, he inscribed a G and O with a heart on his shoes.
“I got to see my daughter again, my newborn,” he said upon his return. “Coming back, it was kind of hard to leave them behind. But it’s a job, so I got to do it.”
“Chat, if y’all know somebody or y’all got somebody for me, y’all let me know,” Brown said, per People. “If y’all got some people in y’all mind, put em in the comments.”
“Coco and Donovan, man, they touched me. It was great to see. It was an amazing event. Two beautiful people coming together, man.”
Brown, 29, was one of many NBA faces to attend the wedding of the Cavaliers star and Grammy-winning singer in Connecticut over the weekend.
Bam Adebayo, James Harden, Dwyane Wade, Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson were also guests — the latter of which Brown had a funny dance floor moment with at the reception.
Brunson stared down Brown, who was taking a video of the Knicks star and 2026 NBA Finals MVP, while swaying to the music on the dance floor with a sly smile on his face before calling to Hart.
The moment went viral on social media with fans saying 76ers-Knicks tension has already started this offseason.
Coco Jones and Donovan Mitchell at their wedding over the weekend. Instagram @gabunion
The former Celtic and five-time All-Star’s last known girlfriend was former-WNBA player Kysre Gondrezick.
The two confirmed their relationship in Aug. 2024 when Gondrezick posted a photo dump on Instagram that featured Brown and even a photo of a piece of cake with his face on it.
The couple was also seen out together at the Celtics NBA championship parade and ESPY Awards that same year.
Brown and Gondrezick reportedly split in early 2025.
Jaylen Brown and Kysre Gondrezick attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images
Last month, Philadelphia acquired Brown for Paul George and two first-round picks and two second-round picks.
Since joining the 76ers, LeBron James has claimed Philly as his new team after agreeing to a two-year, $8 million deal.
James and Brown, who is coming off his best season in the NBA with an average of 28.7 points per game, will link up with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe to try to push the 76ers towards a title.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 06: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on from the bench during the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Chase Center on July 06, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Luka Dončić is taking charge of the Lakers this season, and that begins with him organizing the entire roster to attend a mini-camp in Slovenia.
Well, almost everyone.
While the trip has made it out of the group chat and will be happening this August, one notable player will be absent: rookie Cameron Carr. On Monday, Marc Stein reported in his newsletter, “The Stein Line,” that Carr will be missing the event due to his NBA-mandated rookie orientation.
The aforementioned Dončić has chartered a plane and is paying the full bill to fly and host every single Lakers teammate in his native Slovenia later this month. I’m told that 16 of the 17 players on the Lakers’ roster not named Dončić — from Austin Reaves to Walker Kessler to Bronny James to two-way signees Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon and AK Okereke –have all committed to attend.
League sources say it would have been 17 of 17 if just drafted swingman Cameron Carr wasn’t required to participate in an official NBA rookie orientation that conflicts with what Dončić is calling a “team bonding trip.”
It’s a bummer that Carr will be the only Laker to miss this event. This is the first opportunity for the entire team to be together and begin bonding.
However, he’s also a rookie, and the NBA has this orientation in place for a reason. Rashad Grove wrote a piece for BET last year about the NBA’s Rookie Transition Program, which included the Executive Vice President of Operations of the National Basketball Players Association, Morgan Cato, explaining the importance of this orientation.
Following the Summer League, the rookies will gather for part two of the program in August to expand upon everything they’ve learned during Summer League. According to Cato, the RTP is an alignment with the Player’s Association’s mission, which is “to protect and advance the rights of our players. They are the game.”
“In late August, all of the players will go a bit deeper into everything from media training and engagement to financial literacy to officiating,” Cato said. “It’s more of an intense exposure where they get to work on team building and communication,” Cato said. “By the time they’re ready for training camp, they know exactly what to expect.”
As good as it’d be for Carr to be in Slovenia with the Lakers, he can’t miss this event. Perhaps he can still remain in touch with his peers and talk with them about what’s going on during his downtime.
But it’s a bummer his first months in the NBA won’t include a trip to Europe.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JULY 17: Damiris Dantas #12 of the Indiana Fever reaches for the ball against Jordan Horston #23 of the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 17, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Indiana Fever center Damiris Dantas is out for the season after undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus on Monday. Dantas, who signed a two-year contract with the Fever in the offseason, has seen inconsistent minutes over the past few months but was nonetheless one of Indiana’s backup frontcourt options.
Now, Indiana will have a more short-handed frontcourt rotation.
The Fever lose one of their most veteran players in Damiris Dantas
Damiris Dantas has appeared in 12 games this season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Her role, albeit limited, meant that Stephanie White had another backup big option at her disposal. Now, an already-limited campaign has been cut short.
Because she was already playing a more limited role than expected, the absence won’t impact Indiana’s day-to-day rotation as much.
Nonetheless, Dantas is one of the most veteran players on the roster; the 33-year-old holds career averages of 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds across 272 career games in 12 seasons. She’s played for the Fever since 2024, but previously suited up for the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream, and was someone who Stephanie White could turn to in a pinch.
Now, with Dantas out for the season, the burden will continue to fall on Makayla Timpson, who is averaging 4.2 points and 2.5 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.
Aliyah Boston continues to hold down the fort in the frontcourt
The good news for Indiana is that they have one of the best bigs in the league anchoring the frontcourt: Aliyah Boston, who is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Boston has averaged 26.8 minutes per game, and Timpson has played the majority of her backup minutes.
The Fever may look to sign an additional big to bolster the rotation in the wake of Dantas’s absence. While Myisha Hines-Allen and Monique Billings have played significant roles, Indiana may want to sign another center to a rest-of-season contract.
The Fever are 19-11 and coming off a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Next up, they’ll face the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, August 6th.
In a feature article, The Athletic’s staff wrote a piece focusing on one jersey each NHL team should bring back, but there were two exceptions. The writers explained that the Utah Mammoth hadn’t had time to wear that many jerseys and the only one they had worn aside from their current one was the “painfully generic” one that had Utah written on the front. They looked just like the PWHL initial jerseys, and it’s quite understandable that nobody wants to bring that back. The other exception? The league’s most storied franchise, the Montreal Canadiens.
Unlike the Mammoth, the Canadiens have worn a lot of different jerseys, but none has come close to their now-regular jersey, which has a classic look and is a sign of respect to the oldest franchise in the league. During their centennial year, the Habs wore six different jerseys: a blue one featuring a simple C, a red and green one which had a C in a maple leaf, the barbershop one, which had red, white and blue stripes, a maple leaf and a C, a red, white and blue one with a C that contained an A, and two more which are closer to the current look.
There were also a few Winter and Heritage classic jerseys; the ones they wore in 2003 against the Edmonton Oilers and in 2011 against the Calgary Flames weren’t special, but their 2016 one against the Boston Bruins was a slick one. It was white with a big blue stripe between two small red stripes, featured a white C with an H inside in a vintage font, and had the planet on the sleeve stripes. Their first game wearing it was a 5-1 domination of the Bruins in Foxboro and will always bring nice memories back to Canadiens’ fans.
Then there was the one the Habs wore for the NHL 100th anniversary and in which they lost 3-0 against the Ottawa Senators. The performance was atrocious, but the jersey was slick, with an added silver stripe on the sleeves featuring the years in which the Habs won the Stanley Cup.
Of course, Montreal took part in the NHL’s retro reverse trend, putting out a bright blue jersey for the first year, which was actually quite pleasing to the eye, but didn’t bring them much joy. As nice as the jerseys were, they had to wait for their fifth game wearing them to finally get a 5-4 shootout win over the Vancouver Canucks, and then their last game with the blue jersey had to be postponed because of the COVID protocol.
Finally, last AND least, the famous baby blue jerseys the Canadiens wore in the second year of the retro reverse trend. Those were a tribute to Montreal’s defunct MLB team, the Montreal Expos, but the Habs really struggled to find success wearing them, with Martin St-Louis even saying:
I think the hockey gods- I mean, this is an historical franchise (and) the guys who wore those jerseys 50 years ago, red and white, are looking down and saying: 'What are you guys doing? We probably get what we deserve, based on how historical this franchise is. I don’t know what next year will bring, but I hope it’s not those jerseys.
The coach’s dislike came from the fact that in their first seven games wearing the alternate jersey, the Habs had a 0-6-1 record. They finally managed to break the curse with a 4-3 overtime win over the New York Islanders in their eighth game wearing the powder blue jersey, but nobody in their right mind would want to bring them back; it’s bad enough that second mascot Metal wears one.
Personally, I wouldn’t be against bringing back the 2016 Winter Classic jersey, and the first retro reverse might have been a close second had it not been for all the losses it led the Canadiens to.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: The sneakers worn by Basheer Jihad #48 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Choi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: Draymond Green #23, Kevin Durant #35, and Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors look on in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When LeBron James made his decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers this offseason, it quickly made them one of the NBA’s newest superteams. The revamped roster now features James alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown, giving Philadelphia one of the most star-studded lineups in the league.
Of course, whenever high-profile team-ups occur, fans naturally point back to when Kevin Durant “broke the NBA” by joining a Golden State Warriors team in 2016 featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala all in their Warriors primes.
So, when Durant took the conversation to Instagram, his comments about James’ new-look 76ers being more talented on paper than the Warriors team he joined quickly went viral and attracted attention from both of his former Golden State teammates, Thompson and Green.
Klay Thompson responds after KD said he was "never an MVP candidate in nothing" 👀 pic.twitter.com/yy4XEtI3zk
Draymond reacts to KD's comments on LeBron joining the Sixers
"You have to understand the way KD view basketball, the way KD view basketball is very Uncle Drew-ish, this game will and always will be about buckets… so he's going to mention the 25-point scorers… He also said… pic.twitter.com/YC3yru9gEG
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) August 4, 2026
While the exchange appeared to be all in good fun, it serves as another reminder of the legacy of Golden State’s dynasty. Nearly a decade later, the Durant-era Warriors remain the benchmark for every NBA superteam, and any comparison to that historic roster is almost guaranteed to spark some debate.
Kevin Durant argued the current 76ers roster is 'more dominant on paper' than the 2017-18 Warriors 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4DO7SKxU30
“Ain’t close,” Durant wrote in reply to an Instagram comment comparing the talent level of the newly formed 76ers with the 2016-17 Warriors team he left Oklahoma City to join. “Joel [Embiid] MVP, recently. Jaylen Brown, recent Finals MVP, Tyrese Maxey, All-Star in the last 3 years. We all know what Bron does.
“Klay Thompson never an MVP candidate in nothing, 22 (points per game).”
It is the latest example of Durant seemingly using James’ decision to form a superteam in Philadelphia in pursuit of another championship to validate his own much-criticized move to the 73-win Warriors after Golden State eliminated his Thunder in the previous Western Conference finals.
“This was a great opportunity for me to find my voice on the team,” Richard told reporters. “That’s not just talking and all that but leading by example. Making sure I’m coming here doing the right things and being a voice where the coaches can connect to the players.”
Instead of going outside of himself throughout summer league, Richard expanded on his role and jumped into bigger shoes after a year of learning from all-time greats. His services will be needed even more in Year 2, and the Warriors should be able to rely on him even more with confidence in his game and his communication.
Bosh is cautioning Wembanyama not to take his health and quick return for granted. In February, Bosh had a clotting emergency that nearly killed him.
“Yeah, I had an episode in January. I almost dropped dead, pretty much, and came back to life. I’m not joking. I had another pulmonary embolism,” he told HoopsHype.com. “You just got to deal with it for the rest of your life. I thought I was past it. I am not.”
Already 33, limited, and with an extensive injury history, Payton only further solidifies Golden State’s attempt to run it back with the 37-win 2025-26 roster. A perplexing approach given the team’s struggles and age. Nevertheless, Payton is a favorite of head coach Steve Kerr and face of the franchise Steph Curry.
Follow@unstoppablebaby on X for all the latest news on the Golden State Warriors.
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